Electric wall fixture having a universally mounted lamp



0. LUNDQUIST ELECTRIC WALL FIXTURE HAVING A UNIVERSALLY MOUNTED LAMP Flled Jan 22, 1949 May 22, 1951 INVENTOR. OL VER Z IVJDQ IT Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC WALL FIXTURE HAVING A UNIVERSALLY MOUNTED LAMP poration of New York Application January 22, 1949, Serial No. 72,189

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electric wall fixture having a universally mounted lamp.

More particularly, my invention pertains to lighting fixtures of the type Which are used for theatrical, architectural and commercial lighting. In general, fixtures embodying the instant invention are employed to throw a spot or a flood beam in any direction Within a sector of space. Even more specifically, the present invention is concerned with a lighting fixture of the type constituting a spherical segment partially housed in a casing from which a rounded, truncated, eyelike portion protrudes. Fixtures of this type are particularly adapted to be mounted on ceilings but pursuant to my invention are constructed so that they also can be mounted on walls or floors, or set into the ground.

It is an object of my invention to provide an electric lighting fixture of the character described which is of smaller overall diameter and shallower depth than similar fixtures of previous manufacture.

It is another object of my invention to provide a fixture of the character described which can be swept through a larger sector of space than previous similar fixtures.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a fixture of the character described which comprises relatively few and simple parts, has a rugged construction and can be manufactured economically.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through an electric lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of said fixture; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of details of the fixture illustrating the construction of the light seal and the horizontal rotary support, respectively.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral ID denotes a ceiling-mounted electric lighting fixture embodying my invention. This electric cable l8 through a nipple 20, carried by the top wall of the casing. Said casing is conventionally supported in the ceiling, as by a plaster ring 22 which comprises a stub tubular sleeve 24 having an integral outturned flange 2% at its lower edge. The ring is set into a circular hole in the ceiling with the flange 26 lowermost. Optionally, means such as a mounting strap 28 connects the ring to a beam so as to carry part of the weight of the fixture. Alternatively, the ring may be provided with tabs which overlie the plaster ring and are connected to the metal ceiling lathe, as shown for example in the co-pending application of Stanley McCandless, Serial No. 675,845, filed June 11, 1946, now Patent No. 2,465,248, for Electric Light Fixtures, said application and the instant application being owned by the same assignee.

The plaster ring also includes an annular plate 28' having an outer diameter greater than that of the flange 26 and inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve 24, but less than the outer diameter of the flange 26. This in effect provides a step 3|] at the exposed undersurface of the flange 26. Said plate is rigidly attached to the plaster ring, for example by spot welding 32, or if desired the plate can be formed in one piece with the ring.

The exposed surface of the ceiling surrounding the hole in which the sleeve 24 is received is recessed to accommodate the flange 26 and plate 28' so that the undersurface of the plate will be substantially flush with the exposed surface of the ceiling.

A ceiling plate 34 is seated on the ledge formed by the flange 26 and step 30, the outer diameter of said plate being almost equal to the inner diameter of the annular plate 28. Said ceilingplate has a thickness equal to the height of the step 30, in order that it, like the annular plate 28', may be flush with the exposed surface of the ceiling. The ceiling plate is detachably secured to the flange 26 in some suitable fashion, for example by a few flat-head screws (not shown) whose heads are set flush into countersunk recesses in said plate and whose shanks engage tapped openings in the flange 26.

The housing 12 is secured to the plaster ring 22 by a conventional fastening, as for example a set of screws 36 whose heads are located within the housing and whose shanks freely pass through openings in the housing and are received in tapped collars 38 welded to the outer surface of the sleeve 24.

The lower rim of the housing is disposed adj acent the ceiling plate (see Fig. 3) and has an inturned flange 40 including an upwardly offset annular portion 42 which is spaced from the ceiling plate thereby to provide a seat which receives a light-sealing gasket 44 made from some soft material, as for example felt, whose function soon will be apparent.

This fixture also includes a hollow spherical segment 46 which, for purposes of economy, may be made of sheet metal. As shown herein, said segment constitutes a sphere which is truncated on opposite sides of a major circle and it is due principally to this feature that I have succeeded in making this fixture smaller and shallower and can obtain a greater possible angle of tilt. However, such locations of the truncating planes are not essential to the attainment of other aspects of my invention. One opening 48, formed by one of the truncating planes, is designed to pass a beam of light emitted from a lamp L contained within the fixture. The size and location of the opening will depend, as is well known, upon the angle of tilt and the range of lamp sizes to be employed. The other opening 50, formed by the other truncating plane, is disposed within the casing l2 and its position therefore is not critical. However, to minimize manufacturing costs, it is desirable to have this second opening so disposed that it is barely concealed in positions of greatest tilt.

Pursuant to a feature of my invention, means independent of the ceiling plate is provided to support the segment 46 from the casing l2 for rotation about two distinct and separate axes, towit, a vertical axis extending through the center of the sphere of which the segment forms a part, and a horizontal axis extending through said center. More particularly, such supporting means constitutes a mechanism which is connected to the casing for relative rotation about the aforesaid vertical axis and which is connected to the segment for relative rotation about said horizontal axis.

In the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, this mechanism comprises a yoke 52 having a base 54 disposed adjacent the top wall of the casing I2. Two arms 55 extend downwardly from opposite ends of the base, these arms diverging outwardly toward opposite inner sides of the segment 46. Vertically registered openings are formed in the base 54 of the yoke and the top wall of the casing, and a bolt 58 passes through these openings, the head of the bolt being located beneath said base. A spring-type compression washer 60 is received on the shank of the bolt above the casing, said washer being urged against the casing by'a nut 62 screwed on the bolt. The nut, bolt, casing, and base of the yoke constitute a spring-loaded rotatable friction joint which permits rotation of the yoke relative to the casing about a vertical axis.

The lower, widely-spaced ends of the arms of the yoke are formed with horizontally registered openings 64 which rotatably received diametrically opposed trunnions 66 permanently and rigidly secured, as by welding, to bracket straps 68 which in turn are permanently and rigidly secured to the inner side walls of the segment 45. The yoke 55 is made of a material such as metal having some degree of resiliency and the openings 64, when the yoke arms are unstressed, are spaced apart a distance slightly in excess of the distance between the bases of the trunnions.

The yoke is assembled on the trunnions by pressing the arms of the yoke together suflficiently to enable them to clear the tips of the trunnions and then releasing them, whereupon they will spring apart to engage the trunnions. When thus positioned, the vertical axis about which the yoke turns is midway between the two trunnions and therefore passes through the center of the segment 46. The trunnions are located at a major horizontal diameter of the segment, so that when the sector is turned about either one of the axes about which rotation is permitted, said segment is turned about its own center.

It will be apparent that the friction supplied by the spring 69 and the friction between the arms of the yoke and the brackets 68 will suffice to hold the segment 46 in any position to which it is turned by hand.

It also will be seen that by making the support for the segment 46 independent of the ceiling plate, the fixture can be mounted in any position, even upside down, as is required for a floor support;

The large central opening in the ceiling plate is slightly bigger than the circle of the segment 46 lying in the plane of said opening. This opening can be located at any point with respect to the center of the segment. For example, it may be below the spherical center of the segment, as in conventional units of this character like those shown in Letters Patent No. 2,152,197, issued March 28, 1939, to Joseph Levy for Lighting Fixture Construction and assigned to the owner of the present application. Alternatively, the opening can be at the spherical center of the segment or, as shown, above the spherical center of the segment, these latter positions being impossible of attainment with constructions such as shown in said patent. Said latter positions are particularly advantageous in that they enable the segment to be swung through larger cones than is possible with a construction such as shown in said Letters Patent. It will be noted that if the spherical center of the segment is located beneath the plane of the ceiling plate 34, a major diameter of the segment will be visible. However, this need hardly be noticeable or even may be made an attractive feature of the fixture.

The gasket 44 rubbingly engages the outer surface of the segment to prevent scoring of the latter when it is moved and yet prevent light spill from within.

The lamp L may be of any suitable type, however, I prefer to use a lamp with a built-in reflector such as is well known in the art. This lamp either can be of a spotlight or floodlight type. The lamp is supported in a socket 10 which is carried on a yoke 12 affixed to and extending upwardly from the portion of the segment 46 adjacent the top opening 54. Said socket is located with its axis of symmetry passing through the center of the segment 46 and also through the center of the opening 48 so that, regardless of the position of said segment, the beam of light emitted by the lamp L always will be centered in the opening 48.

Means is included t imit rotation of the yoke 52 with respect to the casing to less than one full turn, in order not to twist, mutilate or possibly break the cable l8. Such means comprises lug I2 integral with and projecting downwardly from the upper wall of the casing and an arm 14 mounted to turn with the base 54 of said yoke. The lug lies in the path of travel of the arm and thereby prevents rotation of the latter through a full 360.

Means also may be included to limit turning of the segment about its horizontal axis of rotation, in order thereby to prevent exposure of the opening 50. Said means, as shown herein, constitutes an outturned edge 16 on the segment around said opening, said edge being adapted to abut the upwardly offset annular portion 42 of the casing to limit the tilt of the segment.

If desired, any suitable light modifying accessory can be secured to the segment at the opening 48. By way of example, I have illustrated an egg crate louver 1B. This accessory is detachably secured in some satisfactory fashion to the segment. For example, I have provided said accessory with three outwardly extending lugs 8|] designed to pass through three similarly oriented slots (not shown) in an inwardly extending lip 82 surrounding the opening 48. To mount the accessory on the segment, the lugs are passed through slots in the lip and the accessory turned to lock it in place. The accessory includes an outwardly extending flange 84 designed to be seated on the outer surface of the lip to prevent light from spilling through this portion of the fixture.

It thus will be seen that I have provided an electric lighting fixture which achieves all the objects of my invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An electric lighting fixture comprising a casing, a plate in fixed position relative to said casing, a hollow spherical Segment constituting a hollow sphere which is truncated on opposite sides of a major circle, thereby providing two circular openings, said openings being on opposite sides of said plate, the planes of truncation being disposed at an angle to on another, a yoke constituting a base and a pair of arms, means to secure said base to a wall of said casing for rotation about a vertical axis passing through the spherical center of the segment, said arms extending through one of said openings into said segment, a pair of spaced trunnions horizontally aligned with the spherical center of the segment, said trunnions being carried by said segment and being located within the same means on the yoke arms for rotatably engaging said trunnions within said segment whereby said segment is revolvable horizontally and vertically about its spherical center, said plate having a circular opening concentric with said vertical axis, the edges of said opening negatively matching and surrounding the circle on the surface of the segment in the plane of said plate, whereby a portion of the segment protrudes through said plate, means to limit relative rotation of said yoke and casing about said vertical axis to slightly less casing, a plate in fixed position relative to said f casing, a hollow spherical segment constituting a hollow sphere which is truncated on opposite sides of a major circle, thereby providing two circular openings, said openings being on opposite sides of said plate, the planes of truncation being disposed at an angle to one another, a yoke constituting a base and a pair of arms, means to secure said base to a Wall of said casing for rotation abouta vertical axis passing through the spherical center of the segment, said arms extending through one of said openings into said segment, a pair of spaced trunnions horizontally aligned with the spherical center of the segment, said trunnions being carried by said segment and being located Within the same means on the yoke arms for rotatably engaging said trunnions within said segment whereby said segment is revolvable horizontally and vertically about its spherical center, means to restrain relative rotation of said segment and yoke, said plate having a circular opening concentric with said vertical axis, the edges of said opening negatively matching and surrounding the circle on the surface of the segment in the plane of said plate. whereby a portion of the segment protrudes through said plate, a lamp socket, and means to support said socket from said segment.

3. An electric lighting fixture comprising a casing, a plate in fixed position relative to said casing, a hollow spherical segment constituting a hollow sphere having two openings, said openings being on opposite sides of said plate, a yoke constituting a base and a pair of arms, means to secure said base to a wall of said casing for rotation about a vertical axis passing through the spherical center of the segment, means to restrain relative rotation of said base and Wall, said arms extending through one of said openings into said segment, a pair of spaced trunnions horizontally aligned with the spherical center of the segment, said trunnions being carried by said segment and being located within the same means on the yoke arms for rotatably engaging said trunnions within said segment whereby said segment is revolvable horizontally and vertically about its spherical center, means to restrain relative rotation of said segment and yoke, said plate having a circular opening concentric with said vertical axis, the edges of said opening negatively matching and surrounding the circle on the surface of the segment in the plane of said plate, whereby a portion of the segment protrudes through said plate, a lamp socket, and means to support said socket from said segment.

4. An electric lighting fixture comprising a casing, a plate in fixed position relative to said casing, a hollow spherical segment constituting a hollow sphere having two openings, said openings being on opposite sides of said plate; a yoke constituting a base and a pair of arms, means to secure said base to a wall of said casing for rotation about a vertical axis passing through the spherical center of the segment, frictional means to restrain relative rotation of said base and wall, said arms extending through one of said openings into said segment, a pair of spaced trun- 7 nions horizontally aligned with the spherical center of the segment, said trunnions being carried by said segment and being located within the same means on the yoke arms for rotatably ene gaging said trunnions within said segment, whereby said segment is revolvable horizontally and vertically about its spherical center, frictional means to restrain relative rotation of said segment and yoke, said plate having a circular opening concentric with said vertical axis, the edges of said opening negatively matching and surrounding the circle on the surface of the segment in the plane of said plate, whereby a portion of the segment protrudes through said plate, means to limit relative rotation of said yoke and casing about said vertical axis to slightly less than a full turn, means to limit relative rotation of said yoke and casing about said horizontal axis sufiiciently to prevent exposure of the opening in the segment above the plate, a lamp socket, and means to support said socket from said segment.

5. An electric lighting fixture comprising a casing, a plate in fixed position relative to said casing, a hollow spherical segment, constituting a sphere having two openings, said openings being on opposite sides of said plate, a member within said casing, means to connect said member to a wall of said casing for rotation about a vertical axis passing through the spherical center of the segment, said member having a portion thereof extending through one of said openings into said segment, means to connect said portion of the member to said segment within the latter for rotation about a horizontal axis passing through the spherical center of said segment, said plate having a circular opening concentric with said vertical axis, an edge of said opening negatively matching and surrounding the circle on the surface of the segment in the plane of said plate whereby a portion of the segment protrudes through said plate, a lamp socket, and means to support said socket from said segment,

6. An electric lighting fixture as set forth in claim 5, wherein the horizontal axis of rotation is disposed outwardly of the side of the plate on which the protruding portion of the segment is located.

OLIVER LUNDQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,712,650 Clark May 14, 1929 1,827,980 Galetzky Oct. 30, 1930 1,882,185 Graham Oct. 11, 1932 2,152,197 Levy Mar. 28, 1939 2,285,002 Wilson June 2, 1942 2,434,108 Handley Jan. 6, 1948 

